Aug. 6, 2009
LAS VEGAS - Cooler temperatures, a slight breeze and a fired up football staff were on hand to greet a group of 24 newcomers at Thursday's morning practice for the UNLV team on campus.
Players who were not with the team in spring practice, including junior-college transfers, February scholarship signees and a new wave of walk-ons, hit the Ernie Becker Sr. Football Fields at Bill "Wildcat" Morris Rebel Park for an early session that ran from 7:30-9:00 a.m.
Head coach Mike Sanford, who heads into his fifth season in charge of the team, said the first on-field meeting is primarily about educating the new guys.
"There was a lot of instruction going on out there," he said. "We're not running them into the ground. We got a break with great weather this morning, which is a nice way to kick off camp."
Showing a smile on his face after his first day as a Rebel was prized local signee Charles Childers (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman High School), who looks to compete for time in the 2009 UNLV secondary.
"It was a real up-tempo practice and it was fun to get back on the field," he said. "We have a lot to learn but it was great to get out there with the other new guys and get to know each other before the whole team is together."
The veterans hold their first practice tonight from 6-8 p.m. at Rebel Park. On Friday and Saturday, the squad will be divided into the Scarlet (8:45-10:40 a.m.) and the Gray (6:00-7:55 p.m.). The first full-team session will take place on Sunday night and the first practice using full pads is scheduled for Monday morning.
NO-BELL PRIZE?: One newcomer that was not in attendance on Thursday morning was 2008 first team junior college All-American defensive end B.J. Bell (Tustin, CA/Tustin HS/Santa Ana College). The younger brother of former Rebels Zach and Beau Bell was finishing up a morning class and Sanford said B.J. will instead practice in the evening with the veterans.
JERSEY BOYS: Fans coming out to practices this week will notice a few jersey number changes from what was published in the team's official media guide. Senior safety Marquel Martin (Rialto, CA/Rialto HS) moved from No. 45 into jersey 13 for his final campaign while junior punter Brendon Lamers (Palos Verdes, CA/Palos Verdes HS/El Camino College) moves from 13 to 45. Local signee Childers has moved from No. 41 to jersey 19 and another young defensive back, Courtney Bridget (Baltimore, MD/Dunbar HS), will wear No. 14 instead of 19.
